Morning sunlight came through the window.
Astera opened his eyes.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
For a moment he was confused about where he was, then remembered last night.
'Ohara. The Tree of Knowledge. Professor Clover.'
And that child he met at night.
Nico Robin.
Tap tap.
He heard knocking at the door.
"Are you awake?"
It was Clover's voice. Astera got out of bed and opened the door.
"Yes."
"Did you sleep well?"
Clover asked. Astera nodded and answered.
"Yes. I slept well."
"Then wash up and come out. We'll eat and I'll show you around the library."
Clover left those words and headed down the hallway. Astera washed his face, changed his clothes, and left his room.
* * *
The dining hall was on one side of the library's first floor.
A long table was set up, and several scholars sat eating bread and soup. Clover led Astera to an empty seat.
"Sit."
Bread and soup were placed on a plate. Astera picked up his spoon and looked around.
'I don't see that child I saw last night.'
Clover was eating his soup when he asked.
"Did you see Robin last night?"
"Yes."
When Astera nodded, Clover raised his eyebrows.
"Did you talk?"
"Just our names."
Clover nodded and picked up some bread.
"Robin is a quiet child. She doesn't meet people much."
"..."
"But she's smart. She's only six and already reads ancient texts."
Astera stopped his spoon. His eyes widened.
"Six years old?"
"Yeah."
Clover let out a small laugh. Like Astera's reaction was exactly as expected.
"How old are you again?"
"Twelve."
"So you're six years older than Robin."
Clover took a bite of bread and continued.
"The ancient texts you said you wanted to learn. Robin is learning them now too. How about you two learn together?"
Astera thought for a moment. That child he saw last night. The small shadow reading alone.
"...Together?"
"Yeah. You're both smart for your ages, so you'll help each other."
* * *
After the meal, Clover took Astera to the library's second floor.
Narrow passages continued between shelves packed tight with books. Clover pointed to each section with his hand, explaining.
"This is the history section."
Astera turned his head and scanned the shelves. Titles written on book spines filled every space.
"Over there is languages, beyond that is navigation, and on the floor below are archaeology and Poneglyph-related materials."
"Poneglyph?"
Astera asked. It was the first time he'd heard the word. Clover nodded.
"Stones that record history. I'll tell you slowly later."
Clover stopped in front of a desk. Several books were stacked there.
"Let's start here. The basics of ancient texts."
Astera opened a book. Strange symbols filled the pages densely. Characters he'd never seen on his home island.
'So these are ancient texts.'
"I want to learn this."
When Astera spoke, Clover nodded.
"Good. Then let's start from the basics. But there's one more child learning besides you."
Clover turned around.
"Robin! Come here."
A small shadow moved between bookshelves far away. He could see her slowly approaching.
It was that child from last night. Black hair, pale skin, large eyes.
Robin stopped in front of Clover. She glanced at Astera, then lowered her gaze.
"Professor."
"Robin, this is Astera who came yesterday. He'll be studying with you from now on."
Robin's gaze turned to Astera again. Astera looked at Robin too.
Awkward silence flowed.
Clover coughed. The air between the two children seemed too heavy.
"Robin, since you started first, you can teach him if there's something he doesn't know."
Robin blinked. A flustered expression.
"...Me?"
"Yeah. Teaching is also studying."
Clover sat both children at the desk.
One desk with two chairs. Robin sat on the left, Astera on the right.
"Alright, that's it for today. Read through it slowly."
Clover disappeared into the library. Only Astera and Robin remained.
* * *
It was awkward.
Astera opened his book.
Robin opened hers too.
Neither spoke. Only the sound of pages turning echoed through the library.
Rustle.
Rustle.
About an hour passed.
Astera stopped at one character. Unlike the other characters, it had an unusual shape. Round but with one stroke stretching long.
'What is this?'
He tried to look at the explanation below, but the letters were too small to see well. Astera hesitated for a moment, then looked to the side.
Robin was focused on her book. Her small fingers moved following the letters.
'Can I ask?'
Clover had said to ask if he didn't know something.
"...What's this?"
He asked quietly. Robin turned her head. She looked at the character Astera was pointing to and blinked.
"Oh, that?"
Robin's voice was a little louder than last night. Her wariness seemed to have eased a bit.
"You read it as D."
"D?"
Astera asked again. Robin nodded.
"Yeah. It's a character that appears often in ancient texts."
Astera's hand stopped.
D.
That letter in his own name. That word from his father's letters.
'The D Clan.'
"It appears often?"
Astera asked again. Robin flipped through her book and showed him a page.
"Yeah. Look here."
The same character repeated throughout the page.
"It appears a lot in names and important words. The professor said so. He said D is a special character."
A special character.
Astera thought of his own name.
Portgas D. Astera.
'So it exists in ancient texts too.'
"...Thanks."
"Yeah."
It was a short conversation, but somehow the air seemed to lighten a bit. Robin returned to her book.
Astera tried to read too, but couldn't concentrate. That character kept circling in his head.
D.
* * *
The sun set.
Clover returned. He stood in front of the two children's desk and asked.
"How is it? Did you read some?"
"Yes."
When Astera answered, Clover looked at Robin.
"Robin?"
Robin answered quietly with her head down.
"...I read."
Clover checked both children's progress and nodded. A satisfied expression.
"Faster than I thought. You're both good at understanding."
"..."
"Do it together tomorrow too. Robin, tell him if there's something he doesn't know."
Robin hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"...Okay."
Clover left the library.
Evening approached. Sunset was visible outside the window.
Astera closed his book and stood up. Robin stood up too.
The two went into the hallway. The path toward their respective rooms.
Awkward silence flowed. Only footsteps echoed on the wooden floor.
That's when Robin stopped.
Astera stopped too. He turned his head to look at Robin.
Robin turned around. Eyes that had been looking out the window turned to Astera. Her lips moved, then stopped. Like she was hesitating.
"Um."
"Yeah?"
Astera asked. Robin clenched and unclenched her hands. A small voice came out, like she'd made up her mind.
"You know the secret place?"